EaglehawkOld goldmining town now part of the larger Bendigo
The casual visitor, turning into the Loddon Valley Highway at the
north-eastern edge of Bendigo, would probably think they were
passing through an undifferentiated outer suburb of the sprawling
city. However, the residential build-up hides the fact that they
are, in fact, passing through an old goldmining town which was
declared an independent borough in 1862 and which remained so until
the early 1990s. Moreover, political and physical incorporation is
not necessarily matched by genuine assimilation. Locals are very
much aware of their identity as an independent goldmining past and
a strong working-class settlement. This is reflected in the
photographs of the town's past which adorn the walls of local
business premises.

For the most part Eaglehawk is clustered around High St, Spring
Gully Rd and Peg Leg Rd (the start of the Loddon Valley Highway
which heads in a northerly direction to Serpentine and Kerang). It
is located 157 km north-west of Melbourne.

This area was once occupied by the Neangar Aboriginal tribe. The
Eaglehawk goldrush began in 1852 when Joseph Crook found a nugget
while searching for some stray horses. An eaglehawk flying near his
claim was allegedly the source of the town's name.

At the peak of the goldrush the population was to reach 40 000
although the alluvial gold was already largely exhausted by 1853.
This led to the establishment of quartz-crushing reef mines. 300
tonnes of gold were ultimately extracted from the subterranean
shafts although working conditions for the miners were appalling,
despite the wealth they accumulated for the mine owners who ran the
town and whose fine homes stand as testimony to the hard work done
by their employees. Due to a lack of ventilation underground many
died of respiratory disease by the time they were 35. A local
doctor, Stewart Cohen, organised a movement which agitated against
the Bendigo Mine Owners Association, ultimately winning
improvements in ventilation and other working conditions.

The mines essentially ceased operations in the 1890s although
there were periods of renewed activity until the 1950s.

Thomas Alexander Browne (aka novelist Rolf Boldrewood) once had
a station to the north of town and allegedly owned the local
butcher's shop. One of his novels, The Sphinx of Eaglehawk (1895),
draws on first-hand knowledge. The town is also mentioned in one of
A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson's better-known poems, 'Mulga Bill from
Eaglehawk' (1902) who 'caught the cycling craze'.

On the sporting front, William Midwinter Jr, a member of the
first Australian cricket team to play in an Ashes series (1877),
grew up in the Eaglehawk area. He was born in England and was later
persuaded to play for England by W.G. Grace, though he apparently
regretted the decision. Tragically, two of his young children and
his wife died within two years of each other. He suffered deep
despair and was committed to an asylum. His third child died at the
age of 12.

A Dahlia and Arts Festival is held every March with music,
dancing, arts displays and processions.

Things to see:

Tourist Information
Bendigo Visitor Centre, tel: (03) 5444 4445.

Brassey Square
The civic heart of old Eaglehawk is clustered around the opulent
town hall in Brassey Square at the corner of High St, Sailors Gully
Rd and Peg Leg Rd (which is the start of the Loddon Valley
Highway). It was built in 1901 on the site of an earlier town hall.
It is fronted by historic cannons which were built in 1859 and 1861
at Newcastle in England. Probably used at a fort on Port Phillip
Bay until 1901 they are still fired each year on Australia Day. An
eaglehawk is motif is utilised in one of the building's
stained-glass windows.

The town hall is flanked by the former post office (1874) and
mechanics' institute (1883).

Eaglehawk Courthouse Museum
Behind the town hall, a short distance along Sailors Gully Rd, is
the squat red-brick courthouse (1869) which is of some
architectural interest in that it is considered an atypical
Victorian courthouse. It now houses a display of material relating
to local history, particularly photographs, and conducts family
history research. It is open Sundays from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. or
by appointment, tel: (03) 5446 8915 or (03) 5446 9528.

Log Lock-Up
Adjacent the courthouse is the old log lock-up which was built
around 1855 to serve as temporary accommodation for prisoners and
those awaiting trial. It is constructed of 30-cm rough-hewn logs
stacked 14 high and crossed at the corners with a solid timber
door. The museum can arrange admission.

Bank of Victoria
Walk south along High St to the Napier St intersection where you
will find the old Bank of Victoria (1881), a two-storey Classical
brick building with pilasters, architraves and hood mouldings.

Canterbury Park
Canterbury Park, once a denuded ruin of alluvial gold workings,
runs adjacent Napier St. Today there are botanic gardens, sporting
facilities, toilets and picnic-barbecue facilities. At the far end
of the park is Lake Neangar, a popular spot with waterbirds which
was named after the Aboriginal tribe which occupied the area prior
to white settlement. Adjacent the lake is a recreation and leisure
centre. 1500 varieties of dahlia can be seen here during the Dahlia
and Arts Festival in March. The park's wrought-iron gates were cast
in 1912 at a foundry which then existed on Sailors Gully Rd.

Municipal Offices
Return to High St. The next crossroad is Victoria St. Turn left
and, at 80-82 Victoria St, are the municipal offices which are
situated in a superb building which was erected in the 1890s as a
private residence, tel: (03) 5446 8966.

Old Primitive Methodist Church
Return again to High St and continue south to the Brazier St
intersection where you will find a section of the primary school
which was originally the Primitive Methodist Church (1865). There
was, at one time, a major feud between the East Methodist and West
Methodist Churches. When the Uniting Church was formed in 1977 the
East Methodist Church was closed and converted to its present
usage.

St Liborius
Continue south along the main road to Reserve St and turn right.
Just along this road is St Liborius Catholic Church (1869).
Liborius was the patron saint of Paderborn in Germany, the
birthplace of Dr Henry Backhaus who laid the foundation stone.

Slightly further south along the main road is Jobs Gully Bridge
which is considered the gateway to Eaglehawk.

St Augustine's, Myers Flat
If you head back along High St to the town hall the road forks left
(the Loddon Valley Highway) and right (Sailors Gully Rd). Follow
Sailors Gully Rd for 1.5 km and there is another fork. Keep to the
left (a continuation of Sailors Gully Rd) and, after 1 km, you will
see, to the right, just past Coakes St, St Augustine's Catholic
Church which dates from 1864.

Harveytown
Follow Sailors Gully Rd until you come to a T-intersection. Turn
left onto the Loddon Valley Highway, heading back towards
Eaglehawk. After 1.6 km there is a turnoff to the right into
Hopkins Ave. Be careful at this point as the road forks confusingly
several times. At the first fork stick to the right and at the
second keep to the left. At the end of Hopkins Ave the road veers
sharply to the left becoming McCormacks Rd. Clarke St is the second
left. Here you will find four sandstone cottages which represent
the core of Harveytown which was once a tiny Cornish mining
community.

The cottages were built around 1875 by Cornish stonemasons
Richard and Thomas Harvey who found employment here as builders and
miners. The cottage at 8 Clarke St was probably Thomas Harvey's
home. It was originally a two-room dwelling with four more rooms
and various walls, all of stone, added at later stages.

Hopkins Ave can, of course, be accessed by following the highway
out from the town hall at Eaglehawk (a distance of 1.8 km).

Atisha Centre
Located at 1530 Sandhurst Town Road, the Atisha Centre is a Tibetan
Buddhist temple and monastery with bookshop. It is open from midday
to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on
Sundays. Donations are welcome, tel: (03) 5446 3336.

Whipstick National Park
Whipstick National Park (2300 ha) is one of the few local forests
to survive years of goldmining, timbergetting and eucalyptus oil
distillation. It was declared to protect a wealth of wildlife and
some unique vegetation, consisting largely of whipstick mallee and
whirakee wattle. Whipstick vegetation consists essentially of
spindly, woody plant stems. The name apparently derives from the
fact that they were considered ideal for switches by the early
bullock drivers.

Camping, picnicking, bushwalking, cycling, gold fossicking and
birdwatching can all be enjoyed within the park. The forest bursts
into bloom in spring due to its many wildflowers. It contains
echidnae, wallabies, kangaroos, the mouse dunnart and 100 bird
species including lorikeets and honeyeaters.

The park's walking and cycling tracks lead by goldmining relics,
picnic areas and some of the old and abandoned eucalyptus
distilleries which once dotted the area. From the Shadbolt Picnic
Area there are walks to the viewing area at Flagstaff Hill (1 km)
and to Old Tom Goldmine (5.3 km return). Pamphlets outlining the
features of these walks in great detail are available from The
Parks Victoria office at 57 Bieu St, Bendigo (tel: 03 5444 6620).
They have excellent, up-to-date material detailing all pertinent
aspects of the public lands around Bendigo, including Whipstick.
They can also tell you about the Bendigo Bushland Trail (65 km of
walking-cycling trails) which explore the area's rich supply of
goldmining relics and natural features.

Head out of Eaglehawk along Sailors Gully Rd for 1.5 km, turn
right when you come to the fork in the road onto the Raywood Rd,
then right into Leslie St which becomes Whipstick Rd.

Terrick Terrick State Park
If you follow the Raywood Rd out of Eaglehawk it will bring you,
after 61 km, to the small town of Mitiamo where there is an hotel
and Vivienne's Gallery at 1A Haig St. Another 4 km north along the
main road is Terrick Terrick State Park (73 km north of Eaglehawk).
This reserve protects an important remnant of northern plains
flora, including the state's finest stand of native white cypress
pines. Fauna includes grey kangaroos and a plenitude of birdlife
(it is the largest nesting site for Brolgas in Victoria). The park
has some dramatic granite outcrops and natural depressions which
were used as water holes by the Aborigines.

Lesser tracks head off the main road. There are fireplaces,
tables, toilets and fine views at Mt Terrick Terrick itself.
Camping is permitted. Ring (03) 5444 6620 or (03) 5450 3957 for
further information.

Hartland's Eucalyptus Oil Factory
Hartland's Eucalyptus Oil Factory was established in 1890 and is
still operating using the original methods. They are open daily for
sales, tel: (03) 5448 8227.

To get there head north along the Northern Highway (towards
Echuca) and turn left at Huntly and the factory is 9 km along that
road, adjacent Whipstick National Park